Coin-refunding device for coin-controlled machines.



A. D. GROVER & E. E. BARBER.

COIN REFUNDING DEVICE FOR COIN CONTROLLED MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. l2. m5.

1 274,26 1. Patented July 30, 1918.

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A. D. GROVER & E. E. BARBER.

com REFUNDING DEVICE FOR com CONTROLLED MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED 0CT.12 I915,

1 274,26 1. Patented July 30, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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llTElD PATENT Flll lwv ALBERT 1). GROVER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AND EARL E. BARBER, F MALDEN, MASSA- CHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, 'I'O AUTOSALES CORFORATION, A

CORPOIdATIDN OF NEW YORK.

COIN-REFUNDING DEVICE FOR COIN-CONTROLLED IVIACI-IINES.

ll ,274l2tiil.

Original application filed July 27, 1912,

To all 'urho'm, it may concern:

Be it known that we, Ammn'r D. Grover: and EARL E. Bunsen, citizens of the United States, and residents, respectively, of New York, county and State of New York, and Malden, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and .usct'ul Improvements in Coindiefunding Devices for Coin-Controlled Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This application is a division of our copending case, Serial No. 711,797, tiled July 27, 1912, and is made necessary by an ollicial requirement for division made in said copending application. The subject-matter of this case is the eoinrct'unding mechanism shown in said parent application, and the description and drawings of this case are restricted accordingly.

The coin-refunding mechanism of our invention includes a pivoted switch member arranged at a suitable point in the coinchute for automatically causing a deposited coin to be refunded when the magazine is empty. The normal position of this switch member is such that a deposited coin will find its Way to the coin-receiving mechanism in the machine. However, when the last package is ejected from the machine, the switch member is automatically tilted so as to divert the deposited coin into a refunding chute open to the outside, so that the patron may get his money back. In the practical embodiment of our invention, the

construction and arrangement of the coinrefunding switch member may be varied or modified in many ways, and the two forms of switch members shown in the accompanying drawings are merely for the sake of illustration and not by way of limitation.

lln the accon'ipanying drawings which form a part of this specification,

Figure 1, shows a vending machine provided with our improved coin-refunding device. I

Fig. 2. is a cross-sectional view approximatcly on the broken line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3, shows a modified form and arrangement of switch member which is shown in full lines in refunding position and in dotted lines in normal position; and

Fig. 4, is a rear view of the modified Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 30, 19118.

Serial No. 711,797. Divided and this application filed October 12,

Serial No. 55,372.

switch arrangement shown in Fig. 3, the magazine being omitted from this figure.

()ur coin-refunding mechanism is applicable to any form of coin-controlled machine, and for the sake of illustration we have shown in the drawings so much of the vending machine of our aforesaid co-pending application as is necessary for an understanding of the operation of the coin-refunding mechanism.

The casing C is provided with a magazine M for containing the vendiblo goods and a suitable form of coin-controlled ejecting mechanism indicated diagrammatically by E in Fig. 1. This ejecting mechanism may be of the form and construction shown, in our copending application, but as it forms no part of the invention claimed in this case, we have not deemed it necessary to illustrate and describe the details of that ejecting mechanism. The articles are pushed forwardly out of the magazine M by the ejecting lingers l which are actuated forwardly of the machine when the plunger 2 pushed inwardly. The ejected )acka'gc falls into the passageway R (which is also the coinre'lunding chute, as will presently appear), whence it may be withdrawn by the urchaser. The delivery and refunding ciute It is preferably secured to the front panel 4 of the machine casing by any suitable means. such as screws, rivets or the like.

The deposited coin is inserted through the coin-entrance slot 3 provided in the front panel l of the machine casing and is guided into its position in the coin-recciving mech anism by means of a coin-chute. As shown in the drawings, this coin-chute comprises an upper section 5 which may be conveniently secured to the front panel 4, a lower section (3 of which is indicated diagrammatically in dotted lines. and an intermedi ate section which consists ofthe pivoted switch member 7. In its normal position, this switch member guides the coin from the section 5 lo the section (3 of the coin-chute. Any suitable means may be prmidegl for holding the switch member in its normal position. In the drawings, we have shown the switch member resting at its upper end against the bracket 8. The switch lTlOll'lbQI is pivoted 011 the pin 9 which is mounted in suitable bearing plates 10 conveniently secured to the front flanges 11 of the magazine M, as best shown in Fig.

In Fig. 3, we have shown a slightly modified mounting of the switch member. In this arrangement the pin 9 for supporting the switch member 7 is mounted in lugs or ears 12 extending from the side plates 13 which carry the upper section 5 of the coinchute.

In the goods-magazine M is a weight W, of any suitable construction, adapted to rest on the column of packages. This weight is provided with an extension 14 which projects out of the front opening in'the magazme.

The switch member 7 is at its lower end provided with a rearward extension 15 which projects into the path of travel of the lug 14: on the weight W. In the modified form of switch member shown in Fig. 3, is a similar extension 15'.

In Fig. 1 is shown a package of goods G which is the last one in the magazine. It will be noted that the lug 14 on the weight is just slightly above the extension 15 on the switch member 7. After this last package has been ejected, the lug 1 1 of the descending weight 'W will strike the extension 15 and throw the switch member 7 intothe position shown in dotted iines in Fig. 1 and in full lines in Fig. 3. When now a coin is inserted through the coin-entrance slot, it will be ided by the surface 7* of switch member (or 7 of switch member 7 into the refunding chute It, whence it may be withdrawn by the intending purchaser through the delivery opening 16 in the front panel of the casing. The switch member remains in this refunding position until the magazine is replenished.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing that we have provided very simple means for returning the coin to the intending purchaser when the magazine is empty. It will be understood that in the broad aspect of our invention the switch member 7 constitutes a deflector'element which deflects the deposited coin either into a coin-collecting passage (such as the coin-chute 6) or a coinrefunding passage (such as the delivery chute R).

Although We have herein shown two forms of our coin-refunding mechanism we would have it understood that various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States. is:

1. In a coin-controlled "ending machine, a casing having a coin-entrance slot and a delivery opening below said slot, a magazine said mechanism. for receiving the ejected articles, said delivery chute terminating in said delivery opening, a pivoted switch forming part of said coinchute and arranged in front of the lower end of said magazine, said switch being normally in a position to direct the deposited coin through said coin-chute to said mechanism, a weight or follower in said magazine, and means on said weight for automatically swinging said switch into alinement with said deliverychut-e after the last article has been ejected, whereby the coins depositedwhen the magazine is empty are refunded through said delivery chute without rea-ching said mechanism.

2. In a coin-controlled vending machine, a casing having a coin-entrance slot and a delivery opening below said slot, a magazine for holding the vendible articles, mechanism below'said magazine for ejecting the articles through the medium of the deposited coin, a coin-chute leading from said slot to said mechanism to guide the deposited coin into proper position, a delivery chute in front of said mechanism for receiving the ejected articles, said delivery chute terminating in said delivery opening, a pivoted switch forming part of said coin-chute and arranged in front of the lower end of said magazine, said switch being normally in a position to direct the deposited coin through said coin-chute to said mechanism, a weight or follower in said magazine, an extension on said switch, and a lug on said weight adapted to engage said extension andswing said switch into alinement with said delivery chute when the last article has .been ejected, whereby the coins deposited when the magazine is empty are refunded through said delivery chute without reaching said mechanism.

3. In a coin-controlled vending machine, a casing having a removable front wall or panel provided with a coin-entrance slot and with a delivery opening below said slot, a magazine for containing the vendible arti cles, ejecting mechanism for delivering the articles through the medium of the deposited coin, a coin-chute for guiding the coin from said slot to said mechanism, said coin-slot consisting of three sections. an upper. section secured to said removable front wall, a lower section fixed relatively to said mechanism, and an intermediate pivoted section v and with a delivery opening below said slot,

a magazine for containing the vendible articles, ejecting mechanism for delivering the articles through the medium of the deposited coin, 'a coin-chute for guiding the coin from said slot to said mechanism, said com-slot consistingof three sections, an upper section secured to said removable front wall, a lower section fixed relativelyto said mechanism,

' and an intermediate pivoted section which normally connects said upper and lower sect ons, a weight in said magazine, and cooperating lugs or extensions onsaid weight andsaid ivoted section for actuating said sect1on 1nto allnement with said delivery chute when the last article has been ejected, so

that all coins deposited while said magazine is empty are refunded through said delivery chute without reaching said mechanism.

5. In a coin-contro led vending machine having a casing provided with a magazine, a weight adapted to rest in said magazine on top of the goods, a coin-chute carried by the front wall or panel of said casing in front of said magazine, adelivery chute secured to said front wall below said coin-chute and said magazine for receiving the goods from said magazine, a pivoted switch associated with said coin-chute near the lower end of said magazine and provided with an extension, and a lug on said weight adapted to engage said extension when the magazine is empty and thereby'rock said switch into position to divert the coins into said delivery chute.

In witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe our names on the days below written.

ALBERT D. GROVER. Subscribed Sept. 24th, 1915.

EARL E. BARBER. Subscribed Sept. 22, 1915. 

